Lt. Fabio Simoes snaps a selfie with the men in Ventura’s Salvation Army Program. Kc, David, Kent Spurlock, Joseph, Adam, Leo, Jerry, Gabriel and Brendan. Photo courtesy of Lt. Fabio Simoes
by Maryssa Rillo
Kent Spurlock, a Ventura native and transient homeless man returned to his hometown of Ventura, in November 2018. After having a stent operation, Spurlock was placed in recuperative care and was introduced to the people of the Ventura Salvation Army. There he received the help he needed and was reconnected with his daughter after 27 years.
“I was in Little Rock, Arkansas and I bought a motor cycle and was flying down the highway with no helmet and the holy spirit came upon me and I tried to get back with life. I have been a transient homeless person for many years and I owe California. I came back to California and in doing so, I got introduced to the Salvation Army,” Spurlock said.
At the Salvation Army, Spurlock met Lieutenants Fabio and Silvia Simoes, Corps Officers of the Salvation Army California South Divisions, and they changed his life.
“I can’t even explain to the people of Ventura County and the donors to the Salvation Army how important it is to support the Salvation Army of Ventura. Pastor Fabio and Silvia have been working there for five years. I did not know them and when I met them, they opened my eyes,” Spurlock said. “I started going to church with Salvation Army which opened other doors and my mind.”
Spurlock said that he was inspired to search for his daughter after witnessing Lt. Fabio Simoes help others reconnect with their family members.
Through the Salvation Army’s shelter, Spurlock had unlimited access to computers, so he decided to begin his search for his daughter in February 2019.
“By going to church Pastor Fabio had helped another individual reconnect his life with his family and I started thinking ‘why can’t I do that?’ And I did, and guess what? She was there, she was there. It took me how many texts, probably a good dozen until she responded,” Spurlock said.
Spurlock said the last time he saw his daughter was in 1991 when he was on parole from prison. At the end of May, 2019 his daughter responded to his texts. Spurlock’s daughter now lives in North Carolina, so they have not been able to meet in person, but they do keep in contact. Spurlock also learned that he has a ten-year-old grandson and a seven-year-old granddaughter.
“I sat there on that computer day in and day out and she finally responded. I have Pastor Fabio Simoes to thank for that,” Spurlock said.
The Simoes began working with Ventura’s Salvation Army Ministry in 2014. The couple works on five-year assignments so they will be moving to Portland, Oregon this summer.
Lt. Fabio Simoes said he enjoys helping people through the missionary and the Salvation Army. He said they have case managers who help the residents find jobs which gives them opportunities to save money for a better life.
“Working with the Salvation Army is priceless. Seeing people without any hope and we just get to offer them the possibility to have a good life. It’s priceless,” said Simoes.
Simoes said that he always encourages the residents to reconnect with their families. Once a resident leaves the Salvation Army, Simoes said he still tries to keep in contact with them.
“I give them my business card with my cell phone number. If they need a friend, I tell them to ask me for help and I give them advice,” Simoes said.
The Simoes’ last day in Ventura will be on June, 23rd 2019.
“If it hadn’t been for Pastor Fabio, his solidness and Silvia’s goodness, between the two of them, Ventura is going to lose very important people towards the community. Those two people made a difference in my life,” Spurlock said. “The church was not that way before the Simoes took demand of the Salvation Army. They made a huge change.”
